Tasks 1–2: advice and personal stories
Task 1 (30 s prep, 90 s speaking) asks you to give advice. Task 2 (30 s / 60 s) asks you to describe a personal experience. Both reward clear structure and specific details.
Tasks 3–4: one picture, two skills
Task 3 (30 s / 60 s) asks you to describe a scene; Task 4 (30 s / 60 s) asks you to predict what will happen next in a similar scene. Keep description and prediction separate — Task 4 is about the future.
Tasks 5–6: persuasion and tact
Task 5 (60 s / 60 s) asks you to choose an option and persuade someone who prefers the other. Task 6 (60 s / 60 s) gives you a difficult situation and asks you to speak to one of two people. Both test appropriate tone.
Tasks 7–8: opinion and description
Task 7 (30 s / 90 s) asks for a supported opinion. Task 8 (30 s / 60 s) asks you to describe an unusual object or scene to someone who can't see it.
Our advice for all tasks
Use the preparation time to note three keywords, not sentences. Start speaking immediately when recording begins, and aim to finish your final sentence with a few seconds to spare.